[ptownrob]

Sorry to see Bourbon St. gone. There is too long a line of closed restaurants to blame it solely on the owners. It's much more about the construction of Spanish Springs.


Owner Albert & his wife are very good people and I know they tried very hard. They put in nightly live music & were great "hosts." I'm sorry to see they didn't survive.

I think the whole Square needs a re-do. The Morses learned much when they built the Landing- it's better laid out for shoppping and exploring. The Square has the Church on one whole side, and the Sales Center/Wellness on another. Katie Belles is only for residents, so the only "draws" are TooJays & the movies.

There's always talk about financial greed for rents as well. If I were the developer, I'd use the Square as a loss leader, and build some shops adjacent to the Church- yes you'd lose the gardens, but there are already so many beautiful spots in The Villages anyway.

I'd also redo the front of Katie Belle's to include shops. It's not like it's a historic building anyway! They could leave the balcony and add shops on each side of the doors.

Finally, I'd redo the front of the new Wellness Center, get rid of the steps, move the shops closer to the street & put shops in there as well.

You guys listening? Location, location, location- foot traffic, foot traffic, foot traffic. The Square isn't set up to maximize that.

[downeaster]

Originally Posted by ptownrob

Sorry to see Bourbon St. gone. There is too long a line of closed restaurants to blame it solely on the owners. It's much more about the construction of Spanish Springs.


Owner Albert & his wife are very good people and I know they tried very hard. They put in nightly live music & were great "hosts." I'm sorry to see they didn't survive.

I think the whole Square needs a re-do. The Morses learned much when they built the Landing- it's better laid out for shoppping and exploring. The Square has the Church on one whole side, and the Sales Center/Wellness on another. Katie Belles is only for residents, so the only "draws" are TooJays & the movies.

There's always talk about financial greed for rents as well. If I were the developer, I'd use the Square as a loss leader, and build some shops adjacent to the Church- yes you'd lose the gardens, but there are already so many beautiful spots in The Villages anyway.

I'd also redo the front of Katie Belle's to include shops. It's not like it's a historic building anyway! They could leave the balcony and add shops on each side of the doors.

Finally, I'd redo the front of the new Wellness Center, get rid of the steps, move the shops closer to the street & put shops in there as well.

You guys listening? Location, location, location- foot traffic, foot traffic, foot traffic. The Square isn't set up to maximize that.

That is only part of the problem.
Consider competition. I ate at Bourbon Street once some time ago and was underwhelmed. There are so many good places we just never bothered to go back. Without that competition we might have given it another chance.
Consider parking. There are "special" nights that fill the parking areas so it is more convenient to go to one of the many good restaurants where they have dedicated parking. Of course without those "special" nights there may be even less business for them.
BTW, I ,for one, like Spanish Springs just the way it is.

[dillywho]

I think Spanish Springs will continue on a downhill slide if more and more shops are added. I think enough chain stuff has already come in there and it has cost SS its original flavor. When we first came here (and that was before LSL), there was Bichara Bakery (awesome) now Starbucks, Cafe Ole, Augustine's and the Brewery, just to name a few. Why not keep TV unique instead of making it like any other place? Those were some of the things that drew us here in the first place....it was unlike any place we had ever been.

[mrfixit]

Per Mark Morse....Spanish Springs is going to be refurbished/reflavored a bit in the near future.
Seabreeze Regional Rec center -way South of 466 is nearing blueprint staging for its beach flovored theme ...and Eisenhower Regional Rec Center south of Seabreeze will honor our military and veterans.......Brownwood town centre will be flavored with a side of cowboy and old florida.....with a "taste of the "origional" Michigan family businesses added for good measure... All in the next five years ...in that approximate order......They are here through the buildout in 2012 or so.............Then.........hello Tejas.....or at least that is what I think the rumor mill is currently reporting to the tin foil thingy on my head.

[inda50]

I think Spanish Springs is suffering the loss of small town stores the same as other cities in America. I'm sorry to loose local small business and that unique feel of creative individual entrepuneurs. Everyone remembers the local hardware store and the soda shop. Becaras bakery to Starbucks is a good example. Sure you get a cup of coffee and the service is good, but it is replacing something that had an individual personality with another "franchise ". It's hard for the little guy to compete with chains.

I'm afraid the old town feel is gone. Our children will only know malls and HomeDepot and Berger king. They are good but not special.

[Cassie325]

Sign is up on the old Main Street Bistro....MEXICAN back at the square!!! YEAH!!

[ABC]

IMHO the title of this thread should be changed to "Why can't Restaurants make it in The Villages".

This problem is not unique to Spanish Springs - Dominics, Whiskey Creek, The Lighthouse (Mk1) on LSL spring to mind not to mention 2 x DQ Grill & Chill and Bono's Bar-B-Q, i am sure there have been others, on 466/441

I agree that Spanish Springs has had more than it's fair share of Restaurant Failures recently but the point needs to be made that Restaurants can & do fail all over The Villages.

[SteveZ]

Having a restaurant in TV is a tough business. The operating margin is tight anyway, and many don't really plan them as "seasonal," which is really the situation here. Once the snowbirds have left, the customer base drops significantly, and most of the remaining year-round folk are comfortable to look outside of TV for dining and entertainment. That makes things even more competitive.

[Hancle704]

I guess the question might be answered by visiting Toojay's and Panera's in SS. They seem to be doing just fine and have been since they opened. They seem to know what folks want and are willing to pay.

[Campbell soup]

I agree both places are great and that is why they have no problems making it...

[emilyjean]

This always works, we villagers need to gather at the Lake Sumter area and walk with signs in front of the sales office, those signs stating :Enough with the Creed" as its the high rents enforced by the Morse family along with demanding a % of their sales to line their pockets, and this is exactly why none can remain in business here, its called CREED, so until we do something to force the issue, then don't expect any changes, if possible buyers coming to the sale office saw this, I assure you they would think twice and you would get some results from the creedy Morse family quickly Anybody game!!!!

[Bogie Shooter]

some restaurants given free rent would not make it. Poor food & poor service is usually the culprit!

[golf2140]

The reason some restaurants do not make it. Food, price, service.

[OpusX1]

What the heck is "Creed" ?

[BobKat1]

Originally Posted by OpusX1

What the heck is "Creed" ?

I was wondering the same thing. Perhaps the poster meant greed?